Two-line element set: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:22, 6 August 2023

Revision as of 16:50, 1 September 2023

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{{cite journal |last1=Carrico |first1=Timothy |last2=Carrico |first2=John |last3=Policastri |first3=Lisa |last4=Loucks |first4=Mike |title=Investigating Orbital Debris Events using Numerical Methods with Full Force Model Orbit Propagation |journal=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |date=2008 |issue=AAS 08–126 |url=http://www.applieddefense.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2008-Carrico-Policastri-Investigating_Orbital_Debris_Events.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204122502/http://www.applieddefense.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2008-Carrico-Policastri-Investigating_Orbital_Debris_Events.pdf |archive-date=2014-12-04 }}</ref>

The format was originally intended for [[punch card|punched card]]s, encoding a set of elements on two [[punched card#IBM 80-column format and character codes|standard 80-column cards]]. This format was eventually replaced by [[text file]]s as punch card systems became obsolete, with each set of elements written to two 69-column [[ASCII]] lines preceded by a title line. The [[United States Space Force]] tracks all detectable objects in Earth orbit, creating a corresponding TLE for each object, and makes publicly available TLEs for many of the space objects on the websitewebsites Space Track and Celestrak,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.space-track.org/|title=Introduction and sign in to Space-Track.Org|publisher=Space-track.org|access-date=28 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://celestrak.com/|title=Celestrak homepage|publisher=Celestrak.com|access-date=28 November 2014}}</ref> holding back or obfuscating data on many military or [[Classified information|classified objects]]. The TLE format is a ''de facto'' standard for distribution of an Earth-orbiting object's orbital elements.

A TLE set may include a title line preceding the element data, so each listing may take up three lines in the file. The title is not required, as each data line includes a unique object identifier code.